Catalina Kid Ventures, the only regular preschool in Avalon, has been through many changes over the past couple of years.
In 2012 it changed from being a city-run program to one that was overseen by a non-profit. It also got a new director, some new students and a new financial structure.
Catalina Kid Ventures, the only regular preschool in Avalon, has been through many changes over the past couple of years.
In 2012 it changed from being a city-run program to one that was overseen by a non-profit. It also got a new director, some new students and a new financial structure.
Now that the dust has settled, the changes overall seem to have been for the better. However, in the midst of the preschool finding its legs it has faced the change of its director, as Sarah Perez, who started the job enthusiastically last year, decided she needed to give up the job to spend more time with her own children and family.
Perez’ stepping down might have shook the preschool to its core – she was well-qualified, an Island resident, and has children of her own. However, her departure made way for the preschool’s board of directors to hire Elizabeth Madden last November. She brings many years of experience and a solid education to the table.
Madden said the timing couldn’t have been better for she and her husband Kerry.
Before coming to live full-time on the Island, the Maddens were living in New York, where Kerry was the vice president of the Lincoln Center.
The Maddens were already familiar with the Island before they made the move. They had been coming to Catalina every summer for about the past decade.
“We always planned to retire here,” Elizabeth Madden said.
For now, though, they are not planning on retiring any time too soon. In fact, they are starting a new chapter and seeking new adventures in their life.
Kerry Madden has left the corporate world behind and has studied and passed the course to earn his captain’s license.
“You could say we are following our bliss,” Elizabeth said. “He loves boats and he will be looking for a job here on the Island doing just that once he gets the actual captain’s license in hand.
For now, Elizabeth has her own work challenges as she takes the reins of Catalina Kid Ventures. She seems well-equipped to meet the challenge of helping the preschool become a thriving non-profit enterprise that can stand on its own, without city funding.
Elizabeth Madden has a masters degree in early childhood education, as well as a masters degree in supervision and leadership.
Before coming to Catalina, she helped open a new preschool in Corona Del Mar.
She has also spearheaded the creation of preschools in the west and east side of New York’s Manhattan Island.
Landing at Catalina Kid Ventures, seemed inevitable for her. It may have helped that she is good friends with Anni Marshall the former Avalon Community Services director who started Catalina Kid Ventures and was highly involved in its reorganization over the past couple of years. Her husband is also good friends with Marshall’s husband, longtime Island resident Billy Delbert.
Madden said she hopes to integrate the best of what she has studied as methods of teaching preschoolers.
“Part of what I like is the Reggio Emilia Approach. It’s an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education, started by Loris Malaguzzi, who was a teacher himself, and the parents of the villages around Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. The program is based on the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self-guided curriculum.”
Meanwhile, she would also like to add a bit of the Montessori approach.
At this point the number of paying students has increased to where the preschool is nearly at a self-sustainable level financially.
“We have between 32 to 35 part and fulltime students,” Madden said.
Meanwhile, she said the board of the non-profit is doing some corporate fundraising and also working on local efforts to help finance the preschool.
Madden said she and her husband are excited about living full time on Catalina and the challenges they are facing, despite the fact that their own children are grown.
The Maddens have two daughters. Their daughter Genell lives in Alabama and has four children of her own.
Their other daughter Erin lives in Ventura and has a baby due this week.
“We are very excited for her,” Elizabeth Madden said. “It makes a big difference that our children are grown. Our health is excellent and we are sure we can face the future and have a lot of success.
When she’s not teaching preschool, Elizabeth Madden said she enjoys playing golf in Avalon with the local woman’s golf team.
“I absolutely love living on Catalina,” she said. “Our days are all very fulfilling.”
